Marine Museum to elect officers, trustees on Monday

The revitalized Marine Museum of Fall River Inc. will hold its annual meeting Monday night, at which it will elect 10 officers and 37 trustees to guide its ship for the next year after years of dormancy and financial problems.

The revitalized Marine Museum of Fall River Inc. will hold its annual meeting Monday night, at which it will elect 10 officers and 37 trustees to guide its ship for the next year after years of dormancy and financial problems.

The meeting, following a reorganization about three months ago, will be held at 7 p.m. at the museum at 70 Water St.

Most of the officers and trustees have been serving since the July 30 meeting at which the museum’s leadership changed. About 60 people signed up as members.

According to Margot Cottrell, president of the board of trustees, there are now about 450 members of the museum corporation.

The private entity had its nonprofit status reinstated two months ago.

Members will be asked to re-elect the Rev. Robert Lawrence as chairman of the board. Other officers nominated are Cottrell for president; Sheila Salvo, Andrew Lizak, Cindy Thrana and Wilkie Marvel for vice presidencies; Patty Lawrence for secretary clerk; Jasper Coffman for treasurer; George Van Duinwyk for assistant treasurer; and Carol Gafford for librarian.

Two members with longstanding ties to the museum, Normand LeCompte and Arthur Hancock, are listed as honorary trustees, along with four ex-officio community representatives, City Councilor David Dennis, Brad King and Carl Sewejko of Battleship Cove, and Paul Ferreira of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Election of the 37 trustees is divided into three staggered terms for 2013, 2014 and 2015 to provide overlapping years.

There are also eight chairmanships listed for various committees.

The issues of concern listed on the agenda include: How to protect endowments and the investment/endowment committee, financial and long-range planning and the coalition with Battleship Cove.

Among the goals Lawrence has set since becoming chairman is finding ways to pay off $150,000 in outstanding bills, including a $56,000 mortgage. He said progress is being made toward that goal.

Cottrell said the museum recently received two $2,500 commitments to purchase a “past perfect program,” which consists of tools and software to put the marine library materials and archives online.

“It would make our library available to the world,” she said.

The Marine Museum is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.